MLB Trade Speculation: The 10 Best Values Who Will Become Available
As the Major League Baseball season nears the quarter pole, trade speculation is just beginning to rise over under-performing or lame duck stars.
Teams have played enough games that it's possible to conclude what a player is for 2011 and what he isn't. If he hasn't done something through roughly 35 games, he probably won't start doing it at a later point in the season.
Whether trying to prove themselves coming off injury, playing for a dead-end team or nearing the end of a contract, these 10 players could become available this season in the trade arena for below market value.
Carlos Beltran, New York Mets
1 of 10
Contract: one year, $19.3 million
Situation: The four-tme All-Star and 1999 AL Rookie of the Year is having a fine bounce back season after playing in just 145 over the last two seasons. Injuries and age are the main concerns for anyone interested in Carlos Beltran at this year's deadline.
Beltran has had major knee issues and just turned 34 years old, but teams will certainly be looking to swipe him and sign him to an extension in hopes that he'll resemble his early years after returning to full health.
Why he'd be cheap: Risk and uncertainty. His recent injury woes and aging bat keep his price low, and the New York Mets could feel desperation to get something for him in a trade as opposed to letting him walk at season's end.
Hanley Ramirez, Florida Marlins
2 of 10
Contract: four years, $57.5 million left
Situation: The Florida Marlin superstar shortstop is a five-tool wunderkind on a baseball field. He is the unquestioned heart and soul of the Florida franchise. However, he's a little enigmatic and doesn't always carry himself as a leader. Whether it's jogging out a grounder or arguing with an ump, Han-Ram occasionally displays a lack of professionalism that his stature requires.
The Marlins are off to a hot start in the competitive NL East, but don't have the look of a World Series contender. Ramirez is struggling out of the gate and the team is playing well more in spite of him than because of him. He's about to get a $4 million jump in salary for next year and the Marlins' M.O. has always been to jettison stars to get a bundle of hot prospects at the opportune moment.
Ramirez came to Miami in that fashion with the Josh Beckett deal in 2006. Could he leave in the same way?
Why he'd be cheap: The Traded Superstar Theory, which claims that when superstars are traded, their former team rarely gets full value in return for the traded asset.
The Marlins are perpetual payroll-slashers, always looking to save a few million bucks. If Ramirez continues to struggle and rock the clubhouse boat a little, the Marlins might consider him and his salary a bit of a drag, which could cause them to offer him at a discount. This will be an even greater possibility if and when the Marlins fade from playoff contention and the trade deadline nears.
Brandon Webb, Texas Rangers
3 of 10
Contract: one year, $3 million
Situation: After three fantastic years with the Arizona Diamondbacks, including the 2006 NL Cy Young award, Brandon Webb descended to pitching hell. He was among the top starters in all of baseball from 2005-2008 and was enjoying the peak of an All-Star career.
Then, after one start in 2009, Webb was placed on the disabled list with shoulder bursitis that resulted in surgery that cost him the balance of 2009 and all of 2010 in recovery. The career of one of baseball's best pitchers was cut down in the middle of its best hour.
Now, Webb is playing at a highly discounted rate. Well, playing is a stretch, because he's still making rehab starts and trying to get healthy enough to pitch for the Rangers.
Why he'd be cheap: Damaged goods. He's not the Cy Young guy he was five years ago, though still just 32 years old. His contract will turn out to be dirt cheap if he makes it back to the majors and recaptures even a bit of his old form. The Rangers aren't invested deeply in him, which means that they wouldn't require much in a trade with a team that needs pitching at this year's deadline.
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Joe Nathan, Minnesota Twins
4 of 10
Contract: one year, $11.25 million with club option for $12.5 million in 2012
Situation: The 37 year old Joe Nathan is in a precarious place in his baseball life. He is recovering from a pitcher's death sentence, Tommy John surgery, which caused him to miss all of 2010 after being a top three closer in MLB for a handful of years preceding. He lost his job about a month ago as the Twins' closer, but is hungry to get back into that role in Minnesota or elsewhere.
Why he'd be cheap: Damaged goods redux and age. One of baseball's best closers in the 2000s can be had for a major discount because the Twins have evidently relegated him away from their plans. If they have little use for him, there's no motivation to hold him and write him paychecks when another team would gladly put him to work.
Aramis Ramirez, Chicago Cubs
5 of 10
Contract: one year, $14.6 million with a 2012 club option for $16 million
Situation: Between injuries and simple underachievement, Aramis Ramirez has played himself into the doghouse of the Cub organization and fan base over the last three years. Now he's at the end of a big contract, but still in what should be the prime of his baseball life cycle.
Why he'd be cheap: Worn out welcome. The Cubs would likely give their stud third baseman away for cheap simply to get rid of him. After almost two and a half years of him not producing like he used to (but getting paid like he is), the Cubs just want to get Ramirez's stink out of Wrigley.
About a dozen teams will line up to talk to GM Jim Hendry about Ramirez as spring turns to summer.
Alex Rios, Chicago White Sox
6 of 10
Contract: four years, $49 million with $13.5 million club option for 2015
Situation: Alex Rios, the eighth-year centerfielder, played just well enough to rope the Toronto Blue Jays into that egregious contract back in 2008. He promptly went back to stinking for full seasons at a time until last year, when he had the best all-around season of his career with the Chicago White Sox.
There's no question that Rios is one of the most dangerous multi-faceted outfielders in the big leagues, but his play has been so stunningly inconsistent that it mandates his teams have low expectations regarding his production. Another maddeningly disappointing year, and Rios could catch Aramis Ramirez Syndrome.
Why he'd be cheap: Pressing needs elsewhere. The White Sox have a pretty solid outfield, so Rios could become expendable, though no one will offer the farm for him because of his shaky track record. The White Sox are on the hook for almost $50 million over four years with Rios, so they might be inclined to shed him in any way possible.
Ervin Santana, LA Angels of Anaheim
7 of 10
Contract: two years, $19.2 million with club option for $13 million in 2013
Situation: Ervin Santana has been tabbed as one of baseball's brightest young pitchers for five years now, but a 16-7 season with a 3.49 ERA and 217 strikeouts is the best season on his resume. He and Angels' ace Jered Weaver have been interchanged in trade rumors for about a year, and it's become clear that one or both pitchers could be in their last days in Anaheim.
Santana is struggling again this year from the rotation's third position, symbolizing that the Angels don't consider him their ace or regard him as trustworthy.
Why he'd be cheap: No leverage. The Angels are on the hook for a lot more money than Santana is worth right now and have pressing needs at third base, in the outfield and in the bullpen. Teams can essentially wait the Angels out on Santana because the team is constantly against the clock in measuring up to past success.
Also, the Angels have shown their ineptitude in the trade market several times, most notably with the Vernon Wells trade in early 2011. Who says GM Tony Reagins is suddenly immune to repeating that?
Jose Reyes, New York Mets
8 of 10
Contract: one year, $11 million
Situation: Jose Reyes is, at long last, back to full health after missing large chunks of the last two years with serious hamstring troubles. He is in the last year of his contract at 27 and is hungry to cash in on a long-term high-dollar deal.
The problem is that, despite his 30 stolen bases last year, some baseball types are uncertain that Reyes can find the extra gear in his legs that makes him such a standout player. There is doubt that he will ever be the same player that he was before his leg injuries, and that his power numbers permanently affected as well.
He is an organizational favorite and has been nothing but a class act off the field for the Mets. They and several teams would love to get a shot at signing him.
Why he'd be cheap: Bloated payroll. The Mets are at over $142 million in payroll for this year, with several high-priced players that are untradeable. Reyes is the only one of their high-priced guys who is an attractive player at the right age and contract status. If the Mets have any hope to restock the farm system and add depth, they have to do it by trading Reyes, which makes them somewhat desperate and void of trade leverage
Aaron Hill, Toronto Blue Jays
9 of 10
Contract: one year, $5 million with club options for the next three seasons at $8, $8 and $10 million
Situation: Aaron Hill's 2009 season of 36 HR and 108 RBI is the only indication that he's actually an All-Star player. For a seventh-year major leaguer, that leads to a reputation that you don't want to have. Fortunately for Toronto, Hill is still cheap and has a chance to prove himself as a legitimate power-hitting middle infielder.
Why he'd be cheap: Held hostage. The Blue Jays can't wait around much longer for Hill to become a consistent hitter because he's about to become overpaid at his current level of production. Former general manager J.P. Ricciardi brilliantly negotiated three straight club options into Hill's contract to give the team an easy out clause any time Hill stopped producing.
The Blue Jays won't wait around for Hill for very long because they'll either need to get something back for their unproven product, let him go for free or bring him back for an unfavorable $8 million.
Jonathan Broxton, Los Angeles Dodgers
10 of 10
Contract: one year, $7 million
Situation: Jonathan Broxton has lost his mojo. He's in the last year of his contract, on the DL and just downright ineffective as a closer. Vicente Padilla is currently closing games capably for the Dodgers, who are disenchanted with Broxton and might be ready to let him walk as his contract expires.
Why he'd be cheap: Little commitment on every side. The Dodgers do not depend on Broxton right now and have very little invested in him from this point forward. For that reason, they might insert him as the closer, hope he pitches well enough to get a few suitors, then trade him for whatever viable assets they can get at the trade deadline. His new team wouldn't have to give up much either, because the Dodgers know that no one will pay handsomely for a closer that is facing free agency.
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